Yorktown lowers sales tax rate

IN THE MONEY

The total annual amount of sales tax revenue disbursed by the State of Texas to the city of Yorktown.

• 2009 - $236,490.45

• 2010 - $237,097.76

• 2011 - $329,434.00

• 2012 - $401,376.10

• 2013 - $118,811.89 (through March)

Yorktown no longer has a .0025 area sales tax rate designated for street maintenance and repairs, effective Monday.

"We are still going to take a quarter of the sales tax revenue and put it toward street maintenance and repair," said Yorktown city administrator Robert Mendez. "The amount of sales tax we are collecting is allowing us keep money going where it needs to go."

Mendez said the city has already received more than $100,000 in sales tax revenue for the first quarter of 2013.

"Now is the time to do things for the city, while we can," he said.

The tax, which has been on the books since 2005, required voter approval this year to maintain that rate, said Yorktown Mayor Rene Hernandez.

"We just missed the deadline to get it on the ballot this year," Hernandez said. "I take responsibility for that."

The issue will be put on the ballot in May 2014 to let voters decide whether to keep the lower rate or raise it again and designate the increase for street maintenance and repair.

"Taxpayers are getting a reprieve at that lower rate at least until then," Mendez said.

The total area sales tax rate is now .0125; that includes .0025 for economic and industrial development. The city's total sales tax rate is .0750.